Repeat cycle in Ontario about to be broken, warmth finally
Digital Reporter
Friday, March 23, 2018, 11:46 AM - Are we on a repeat cycle here in Ontario? Below seasonal temperatures and a noticeable wind chill have dominated the forecast across the region this week. So have clear conditions. A similar story through the weekend before a break in the cycle next week. Think warmth, but also think BRIEF.
As high pressure remains in place for the first official weekend of spring, abundant sunshine spreads into the forecast. That same high pressure has also been acting like a shield to protect the region from several snow-packed systems all around us this week, likely good news for the thousands that said they're DONE with winter.
Weather Highlights
- High pressure to dominate across the region for the next foreseeable future, leading to mostly clear skies.
- Temperatures will still be below seasonal, and winds will be gusting between 40-60 km/h from the north or northwest.
- Check for WEATHER ALERTS, here.
"We can thank a large area of high pressure for the abundant sunshine, but also for preventing the east coast nor'easter from spreading snow further north into our region," says Weather Network meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham.
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Another snow miss, but reinforcing shot of cold air
A potent Colorado Low develops for the weekend, but again, Ontario looks to dodge the bullet with this snow storm while parts of the U.S. Midwest get another round of heavy snow.
"A reinforcing shot of cold air will arrive for Saturday and the raw east wind off of Lake Ontario on Sunday make it feel especially chilly despite the sunshine," says Gillham.
Double digit days before a cold start to April
Next week will start off cool, but a warming trend will bring a few days of above seasonal temperatures.
"Most of the Golden Horseshoe will approach/reach double digit temperatures during the middle to end of next week," Gillham says. "Our extended period of dry weather will also come to an end Tuesday night and Wednesday however, with a period of rain tracking across the region."
Unfortunately, this milder pattern next week will be short lived with yet another round of cold weather for the start of April.
"And colder than normal temperatures are expected dominate the first half of April," Gillham adds. "However, keep in mind that "normal" temperatures rapidly climb this time of year as we gain 1.5 degrees per week on what is considered to be seasonal."
Click play to watch below: CHILLY start to April across southern Ontario. Long range forecast, below.
Suggested, "I'm leaving my snow tires on"
Although the active storm track has seemed to continually miss southern Ontario, that doesn't mean smooth, snow-free sailing from here on out. As the cold pattern returns later next week, so does another system with the potential for wet snow next Friday (especially for northern areas of the Golden Horseshoe).
"It is too early to know what the exact storm track will be during this time, but I am leaving my snow tires on," says Gillham. "The storms may well continue to track to our south as they have for most of March, but the chilly pattern during early April gives us the threat for at least one more significant snowfall."
Check for up-to-date detailed analysis on the weather in the Golden Horseshoe, here
